Bechouat
Encyclopedia
Bechouat is a Lebanese
village in the Beqaa Valley
of Lebanon
. The village is famous for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bechouat
, a Marian shrine and the site of Christian
pilgrimage
. Divine miracles have been reported and attributed to Our Lady of Bechouat.
The people of Bechouat are Lebanese and followers of the Maronite Catholic Church. The ancestors of the inhabitants of the village came to Bechouat from Bsharri
at the beginning of the 17th century.
The Church of Our Lady of Bechouat was built over the ruins of a Roman
temple in the 18th century. An ancient oak tree shades the church’s small courtyard.
The name Bechouat has Aramaic origins, meaning "initiation" or "facilitator".
Archeological artifacts, such as jars and pottery, have been found in Bechouat’s funerary caves and rock-cut tombs. A votive stone altar with representations of the Heliopolitan Triad
was also found in the village.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
village in the Beqaa Valley
Beqaa Valley
The Beqaa Valley is a fertile valley in east Lebanon. For the Romans, the Beqaa Valley was a major agricultural source, and today it remains Lebanon’s most important farming region...
of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. The village is famous for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bechouat
Our Lady of Bechouat
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bechouat, also spelled Beshouat or Beshwat, is a Marian shrine in the village of Bechouat in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon.In 1741, a Byzantine wooden icon of the Virgin Mary was discovered in one of the deep caves...
, a Marian shrine and the site of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
. Divine miracles have been reported and attributed to Our Lady of Bechouat.
The people of Bechouat are Lebanese and followers of the Maronite Catholic Church. The ancestors of the inhabitants of the village came to Bechouat from Bsharri
Bsharri
Bsharri , is a Lebanese town at about 1,450 m of altitude, near the Kadisha Valley. It is located at , in the Bsharri District of the North Governorate. Bsharri is the town of the only remaining Original Cedars of Lebanon...
at the beginning of the 17th century.
The Church of Our Lady of Bechouat was built over the ruins of a Roman
Roman architecture
Ancient Roman architecture adopted certain aspects of Ancient Greek architecture, creating a new architectural style. The Romans were indebted to their Etruscan neighbors and forefathers who supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for future architectural solutions, such as hydraulics...
temple in the 18th century. An ancient oak tree shades the church’s small courtyard.
The name Bechouat has Aramaic origins, meaning "initiation" or "facilitator".
Archeological artifacts, such as jars and pottery, have been found in Bechouat’s funerary caves and rock-cut tombs. A votive stone altar with representations of the Heliopolitan Triad
Heliopolitan Triad
The cult of the Heliopolitan Triad was Phoenician in essence but the Romans adopted it when they conquered the city of Baalbeck in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon. The Phoenician deity, Hadad became Jupiter Heliopolitanus, Astarte, the great goddess became Venus Heliopolitana and Adon, the god of...
was also found in the village.